WOLLASTON PRISM Meaning and
Definition
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A Wollaston prism is a type of optical device that is commonly used in optics and physics experiments. It consists of a prism made from a material with a high refractive index, such as calcite, that has been split into two halves and rejoined using an adhesive substance with a similar refractive index.
The unique design of the Wollaston prism allows it to split a beam of light into two orthogonally polarized rays. When light enters the prism, it is divided into its component wavelengths, and the polarization of each wavelength is altered depending on its orientation. The two resulting beams then exit the prism in slightly different directions due to the different refractive indices for each polarization.
This optical instrument is widely used in various applications, such as polarimetry, spectroscopy, and interferometry. It is particularly useful in studying and analyzing the polarization properties of light, as it can separate the different polarization states and provide valuable information about the sample being analyzed.
The Wollaston prism is named after William Hyde Wollaston, an English chemist, and physicist who invented it in the early 19th century. His invention revolutionized the field of optics and contributed significantly to our understanding of light and polarization phenomena.
Common Misspellings for WOLLASTON PRISM
- qollaston prism
- aollaston prism
- sollaston prism
- eollaston prism
- 3ollaston prism
- 2ollaston prism
- willaston prism
- wkllaston prism
- wlllaston prism
- wpllaston prism
- w0llaston prism
- w9llaston prism
- woklaston prism
- woplaston prism
- woolaston prism
- wolkaston prism
- wolpaston prism
- woloaston prism
- wollzston prism
Etymology of WOLLASTON PRISM
The word "Wollaston Prism" is named after its inventor, William Hyde Wollaston, an English chemist and physicist who lived from 1766 to 1828. Wollaston was known for his contributions in various scientific fields, including the development of the Wollaston prism. The prism is named in his honor as a tribute to his invention and his significant contributions to the field of optics.
